Are You Being Rude When You Are On Your Cellphone?

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are mine. We have so many apps now, don’t we? The kid and I all have Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter downloaded on our phones. This means we are using our smartphones more than ever before. I will admit, I am on my iPhone many hours a day. I am working or scrolling through my Facebook feed or taking pictures of the kids. Without realizing it, this can be annoying to the people around me. It makes me wonder. Are you being rude when you are on your cellphone?

Think Before You Hit Send

I bet we have all done it. Sent out that text or tweet when you were angry. The other day, I was watching Caitlin while she was on her phone. She sent a text that was more harsh than she intended. She regretted it the moment she hit send on her phone.

How Much Is Too Much?

Have you ever shared a little too much information online? I have and did not even realize it. I know people who sometimes share information or photos which are inappropriate. We need to remember that with social media, there are people who may be watching your every move. Also check the background of your photos. You may be sharing information that you don’t want others to see. I shared something I shouldn’t have in this post. Can you spot it?

I love that I can download so many useful apps on my iPhone from U.S. Cellular. And with a network that I can take anywhere and get service, I can be on my phone whenever I like. Well, at least within reason! With July being Cellphone Courtesy Month, I thought these tips would be helpful.

Are You Being Rude When You Are On Your Cellphone

According to a recent U.S. Cellular survey¹, 71 percent of smartphone owners get annoyed by the excessive phone use. I get irritated when I am in line at the grocery store and someone is on their phone while they are checking out. Or when someone is sitting close to the kids and I and are talking about inappropriate things. Sorry dude, but I do not want my kids to know all about your sex life! So please, be aware of what is going on around you when you are on your phone. Be respectful of others.

Don’t Share When You Are Emotional

We need to watch what we post. Sometimes we can share inappropriate content on a family friendly news feed. Or we may say something in a way that conveys the wrong message. Don’t post immediately after an emotional event. In the heat of the moment, we can or share something we would not have said in a more calm situation. It is a good idea to take a breath and think before posting on social media.

Get Permission Before you Post

If you want to post photos of friends and family, it is s good idea to ask permission first. We have a family member who does not want to be on social media at all. Also, you may spoil a surprise if you share an exciting announcement before everyone knows. I almost shared the news about a friend who was expecting. She had not told everyone, and I could have really made a mess by sharing that news.

Is It Controversial?

It is hard not to see Facebook statuses and tweets that are conversational. Keep in mind that anything said publicly online can be read by someone not participating in the conversation. Because my feeds are more family friendly, I need to remember not to engage in topics I don’t want them to be involved in. We may say something in jest and they may take it more seriously or take it out of context. When in doubt, just ask yourself; Are you being rude when you are on your cellphone? Be sure to stay current with U.S. Cellular and follow them on Facebook and Twitter. One USA reader will win one $25 Amazon Gift Card. Good Luck!

¹ Between Nov. 10-17, 2016, a total of 701 online interviews were conducted among a nationally representative sample by Consumer Insights, in partnership with Maritz CX.

What are your pet peeves when it comes to cellphone etiquette? I would love to know! Please share in the comments below!

My pet peeves when it comes to cellphone etiquette is when someone or everyone is looking at their phone at the table during lunch or dinner at home and at restaurants. I’m guilty of it too, but not the whole time. I might check my texts, email and see if I have a missed call. I also don’t like when people text each other and they are in the same room. Thanks for the chance to win!!

I don’t like people talking on the phone in restaurants, when they should be paying the cashier while I am standing behind them in line, and talking too loud. It is just too much. Be considerate of others.

My pet peeve is when I am out with someone who I have not seen for a long time and they start texting! It annoys me to no end. I also hate when people use their cell phones when they are in the movie theater.

The hum yes aha and you realize they were on their phone while you were talking to them, I hate it because I could be telling them something super important and they are totally not listening, or the phones on the table come on.

I have plenty of cell phone pet peeves, including people speaking loud enough for everyone around them to hear their conversation, people using speakerphone while having a conversation in public and texting while driving or walking, Basic etiquette is so easily lost these days!

My biggest pet peeve is seeing people driving their cars with their faces buried in a cell phone. Its so dangerous, I wish they would just drive and save the phone for when they get to their destination.

Everyone in the entire world needs to read this! I’m as connected as the next gal, but dang… Put the phone down at the dinner table, and for the love of God, DON’T take your cell phone out in the theater.

It is very inappropriate when drivers use their phone to text while on the road. They are not only putting themselves in danger but also their passengers. They should at least park somewhere if they really need to text back.

I try to be aware of my surroundings when on my cellphone. What irks me is people who are on their cellphone during a movie in a theater. Like turn the thing to vibrate, or put it in your purse, but stop answering calls during the movie.

I really don’t like it when people are on public transportation talking on the phone at high volume. I also don’t appreciate it when I see people on their phones and texting in the middle of a yoga class!

I have a serious pet peeve about cell phones! I can’t stand it when people come over and are on them the whole time! Hello, interact with the real world! I also can’t stand it when people have no filter when they’re in public on their phones…like do you realize you’re swearing in front of little kids?

i hate when you are having a dinner with guests and they talk on their phone … i hate when your in a store and the person next to you is having a loud convo on their phone so everyone can hear … and really really hate when everyone you drive by feels the need that they have to be on their phone and are not paying attention to their driving

I really wish that people would be more aware when they are speaking on their phones. Seriously the swearing and the rudeness and the kids being in earshot? No thank you. Why can’t you talk about those things in private? Why do you have to scream them into your phone in the middle of Wal mart!

It’s really annoying when everyone in a group is on their phone and no one is talking to each other. I find it strange when you see people walking around and it looks like they are talking to themselves with a bluetooth ear piece.

I made the mistake of answering a call from a number I didn’t know- they asked for Cindy, I said that was me. Immediately, I was cussed out for hitting on some guy by his wife…….never heard of him. She wouldn’t believe me, either. I finally gave her my Facebook address: A few days later, I got a posted apology,

I loathe it when people insist on looking at their phone when they are supposed to be talking to me! So rude, makes me feel that they consider me less worthy of their attention than some stupid piece of machinery!
It amazes me when I am sitting on public transport and look around, and see that 95% of the passengers have their heads bent over their phones; you simply would never have seen this 20 years ago.

What I hate is when people call MY phone and when I answer and say “Hello” they respond with “Who’s This?” with an attitude, like I am not supposed to be the one answering my own phone. Most of the time when this happens it’s a wrong number. I find this matter of behavior extremely rude. I wish some people had better phone etiquette.

My biggest peev is people talking on cell phones in restaurants sooooooooo EVERYBODY can hear them is rude annoying and disrespectful. I also find annoying when moms hand small toddlers there phones when the kids are being bad to coral them parent your kids people !!!

I don’t think there is anything wrong with talking on the phone in public, as long as you aren’t ignoring anyone in your company (and even then, sometimes there are important calls that need attention!). One of my pet peeves is when people have their volume on loud in public while texting or playing games.

For me, it is when people come up the front of a business talking or focusing on one. Like if you want the employee’s attention, how about give them some too. I can’t tell you how many people have stopped me, just for me to wait for them to get around to talking to me.

my biggest pet peeve is people watching videos while eating. at least put it on silence. or when you are having a full conversation and they ignore all of what you said because they were playing on the phone.

My biggest pet peeve is when older adults have to comment about how they never had these things growing up and “How would you survive without your phone”. People were able to survive before a lot of innovations, but that doesn’t detract from the value. We have so much access to information at our finger tips and it is such a blessing. I think more people need to realize that not everything we do on our smartphones is superficial. I’ve had older relatives tell me to put down my phone and read the newspaper while I was currently reading the local paper online.

Great article though! People definitely need to know when they are being rude with their usage.

My pet peeves in regards to cell phone etiquette are that I find it rude to be out with your friend/significant other/family member and to sit there and be on your phone while they sit there patiently waiting for you to finish whatever was so important that you felt you needed to be on the phone in the first place. Also, when I worked retail people (women were mainly the worst culprits) would be on their phone having a full discussion and completely ignore me trying to assist them during checkout.

My pet peeve is one you hit on. Do not be standing at the checkout counter on your phone and having a conversation with the checker. I don’t want to wait while you chat. And do not answer your phone in a movie theater. Most of them don’t even want you bringing your phone in.

It’s really irritating when someone is talking really loudly into their cell phone so that everyone around them can hear. If you’re going to talk that loud, then at least turn up the volume on your phone so we can hear the other half of the conversation

I hate that people – especially young women – text and drive. It is illegal, and it is often deadly. I shouldn’t have to worry about being hit by some dumb distracted driver because she just HAS to respond to a random text. They say that distracted driving is even more dangerous than drunk driving.
Also I get tired of the people walking around the store talking loudly on their phones. I talk on the phone sometimes in a store, but talk at a normal level like I would if someone was shopping with me. And people who walk around a store talking to someone else on speaker? Ridiculous. And SO weird.
I also hate going to a restaurant and having the person at the next table playing a game at full volume. Like seriously ? There are other people here trying to actually talk to each other over a meal – we don’t want to listen to your dumb sports game!

The thing I find most annoying with cell phones is that people have their ringer volume at full blast. I was sitting in church on Sunday and someone’s cell phone rang. It was so loud it sounded like a security alarm. People actually stood up and looked around to see what was going on. After all that, she had the nerve to answer the phone and speak very loudly on it for a full minute. The priest finally asked her to shut the phone off or leave. Some people have no manners nor common sense I guess.

There are a couple of Pet Peeves which I have when it comes to cell phones. My first pet peeve is all caps. If you pay attention to cell phone etiquette STOP YELLING AT ME. I can not stand when people are texting while driving. Is your life not that important.

Cell phones are a very convenient tool. The problem is more and more individuals can’t function without one hooked to their hip. I hate following someone on the road whose MPH are dictated by their conversation.

I went to the post office the other day and when I got to the window the girl told me to hold on while she was checking her texts. I wanted to get the manager but I my lunch was almost over (I was at work).
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My pet peeve is people using their phones when in a restaurant or other public place. It also drives me crazy when drivers are on the phone as they usually are driving slow because they can’t do two things at once.

One of my biggest pet peeves is when I’m watching a movie or at church and someone’s phone starts ringing loudly. Even worse, if it happens even though people were reminded to turn off their phones or put it on silent mode before the movie or mass starts.

I can’t stand it when people are talking loudly on their cell phones in public places. I have been out shopping, minding my own business, and sometimes have to hear people’s business loud and clear because they don’t care! Ugh…

When you are visiting family/friends especially ones you don’t see very often and while you are there they take a call or text repeatedly instead of spending time with you. I think it is very disrespectful, it doesn’t show any consideration at all for who came to see you, and is also just plain wrong!

It drives me up the wall when people just stop right in the middle of the street to leisurely check something on their phone, why can’t they take two steps to the side? Also, people who chat on their phones even when you’re trying to tell them something, it’s incredibly rude.

Pet peeves regarding cell phones:
– using the phone while driving; these are the people that sit in the left lane on the highway who drive just under the speed limit, and never move over because they don’t notice anyone else.
– talking on the cellphone, raising your voice over everyone else in the restaurant/plane/movie theater, etc.

My pet peeve is not just mine but should be that of everyone. I hate it when I am in heavy traffic on a surface street in a large city where traffic is moving at a good speed and all at once you got a driver of a vehicle wondering all over the road because they are texting. Texting and driving is never good anywhere. My wife who has to use a handicapped powered cart at Wal-Mart actually ran it into something on her cart while texting. She now stops it in an out of the way spot to text. I am guessing since texting is done from a cell phone, cell phone etiquette includes it also.

I dont mind cell phones, I love mine, and I think its a cool thing that we all have them and can stay connected. On another note, I think its rude when you’re talking to someone, having a conversation, and they are playing on their phone. Like, pay attention to me, Im here and im talking to you. I also hate it when I see people on their phones while driving, not so much Talking, but TEXTING, seriously, about every other car I can see people with their heads down, pay attention!

One of my pet peeves with the cell phones is for a person to not acknowledge that they have received a message that i”ve sent them. Just a simple, ‘ok’ or ‘thanks’ or ‘yes’ or ‘no’ or something that indicates that they received the message, so I don’t have to sit and wonder if they are are still there and alive, lol I guess that’s the only thing that really bothers me about cell phones right now.

So many people are not polite when they use their cell phones. When in the movies, a performance, or in a meeting, cell phones should be silenced and put on vibrate. If an essential call must be returned, people should leave the room. I think it is terribly rude when people stroll through stores, chatting loudly on their phones.

I have 2 pet peeves when it comes to cell phones if you are driving do not Talk unless you pull over to the side of the road . I also can’t stand it when someone is paying more attention to there phone instead of walking and looking where they walk /

I saw a couple on a date last night and the guy never looked up from his phone the whole dinner. I felt so bad for the girl that he couldn’t be bothered to tear his attention away from the screen for her.

Honestly what makes me so incredibly infuriated is when I see people texting and driving. I see it a lot because I live on a corner by a stop sign. They are very rarely paying attention, hardly stop, and often times there are kids in the car. It’s reckless.

Oh For someone to come to my home as a visitor and sit and be on their cell phone the whole time they are suppose to be with me, if I go to someone’s house for dinner, visit and they are constantly on the phone, texting, etc, It makes me so angry back in the my dau we didn’t have cell phones

My #1 Pet peeve is when individuals text & drive! We were run off the road by someone not paying attention while they were texting and driving! She didn’t even turn her head to see who was in the next lane driving right along side her! She didn’t slow down! If anything sh sped away like a bat out of hell! I thank God that HE was watching over us & that my husband was paying attention! I thank God too that no kids were in the car!
My #2 is cellphones at the dinner table or in church! There’s a time & a place for everything!!

I hate seeing people texing when out to eat. We have a rule of no electronics at the table and that includes restaurants. It’s sad when I see families out to eat and everybody is on their phone and no one is talking or interacting.

It bothers me when a person in a group conversation is engrossed with his cellphone. I think it’s rude. He should excuse himself and go. It’s not fun when someone is not participating in the group discussion.

I think it is extremely rude for people to use their phone when they are checking out at the register or ordering something, It is very dismissive of the people who are doing their jobs and trying to help them.

I hate when I see someone in line at the store or the bank and they continue to talk on their cell phone while the cashier or bank teller is doing their transaction. It is so incredibly rude, I couldn’t imagine how offended I would be if I were the cashier or the teller trying to help them! I always hope that they get “shorted” on their transaction. It would really serve them right! I also hate when they are behind me in line and talk loudly in to their phone while standing too close to me, ackkk! That happened to me the other day and I kept turning around staring at the woman to try to give her a hint, but of course she was so absorbed in her call that she didn’t notice.

My pet peeve is when a person starts having a long conversation with someone else while we are talking. I feel that you should let your call go to voice mail or if you have to answer the call keep the conversation short.

It annoys me when I am in the car with one of my teens and trying to have a conversation and they are so busy taking selfies on SnapChat that I don’t believe that they know I exist! Lol. I usually do it back to them when they are driving so they know how annoying it can be:)

It annoys the crap out of me when people get in line and just keep talking instead of talking to the clerk while checking out. When i worked at a gas station I would refuse to wait on them, when they got mad I told them I didn’t want to get in the way of their conversation.

Well, I obviously don’t like it when people talk on the phone or text while driving. I think one thing that I’d say would be a pet peeve of mine is when you’re in a public restroom and someone in the next stall is talking on their phone. Just weird and when you think about it. Even the person on the other end – they don’t need to hear what the person is doing while they are on the phone.

It really bothers me when people are talking on their phone when they’re at a restaurant, a dinner, or at checkout in a store. It’s not only annoying to everyone around you, it’s very disrespectful too!

I hate when people facetime in public places-for example this week I was waiting in line at the post office and the woman in front of me was loudly having a video facetime chat. I also don’t like when people use their phones during movies or live theater.

When people are so focused on their phones, that they don’t notice what’s going on around them (not moving ahead in line, driving distracted, etc.). I also hate it when we’re out to dinner or lunch and someone dining with us never looks up from their phone.

My pet peeve is when people have loud, prolonged conversations on their cell phone in proximity to others that might now want to be listening in. For example, at the pedicure station the lady right next to me had not one but TWO cell phones that she was switching between and talking her head off the entire time. Unreal.

Number one is when I am in my vehicle and I see people reading texts or talking on their phone without Bluetooth. Another is when I am talking with someone and they get a text message and just start reading that instead of continuing our conversation… I am going to start walking away. lol